S. Korean ex-President Lee Myung-bak summoned over bribery allegations

South Korean prosecutors summoned former President Lee Myung-bak to appear for questioning on March 14 over allegations of bribery and corruption, Yonhap news agency reported on Tuesday.

"We need to investigate former president Lee to find the truth (in the scandal) in a transparent and effective manner," Yonhap quoted an unnamed Seoul prosecutor as saying.

Prosecutors have been investigating multiple allegations that Lee received bribes amounting to millions of dollars from politicians and businessmen while in office. They have questioned officials and Lee’s family members and raided their houses, including a swoop last week to the home of his son-in-law who is a senior executive at Samsung Electronics.

Lee, who was in office from 2009-2013, would be the fourth president of South Korea to be questioned by investigators following detained ex-leader Park Geun-hye.

His successor Park was ousted last year over a massive corruption scandal that emerged in 2016.

The verdict in her trial on charges of bribery and abuse of power is due next month, with prosecutors demanding 30 years in jail.

(CGTN)